The Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base is the “Center of Excellence” for research, development, and test and evaluation of aerospace systems for the United States and its allies. The Air Force’s mission is to fly, fight, and win, and Flight Test Center ensures that Airmen flying into harm’s way will always be equipped with proven, battle-ready aircraft and systems.

The Flight Test Center ushered in the era of modern flight. It was the birthplace of supersonic flight: in 1947 Chuck Yeager first blasted through the sound barrier in the Bell S-1. He was soon followed by other courageous pilots who faced the unknown and dared to push their aircraft past Mach 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, and up above 100, 200, 300 thousand feet, into near space. All modern-era military aircraft have been tested and proven at Edwards. For more than six decades, the Edwards Flight Test Center has remained the premier testing and research center in the world.

The Air Force Flight Test Center coin captures the essence of the Center. The obverse displays a shield showing an aircraft runway in the desert. In reality, the landing capabilities are staggering: the facility embraces 65 linear miles of useable landing area on Rogers and Rosamond Dry Lakes, with formal runways of up to 7.5 miles in length. The United States Air Force emblem in blue and white is the reverse of the coin. In addition to the rich enamels, the coin also has raised and semi-sandblasted features.

™ Department of the Air Force. Officially Licensed Product of the Department of the Air Force (www.airforce.com).